Chapman says "36 years ago... a failure and was discarded after one trial."

Miller responds “Despite all this, two-hull vessels are completely sound when the theory can be properly applied; that is in vessels of very light weight, and of small size, with crews of one or two men.”

You wonder, who are these guys arguing? A wealthy Scot, Patrick Miller and a Swedish naval architect, Fredrik Henrik af Chapman... In 1790!!!!

See Fulton's "Steam Battery": Blockship and Catamaran, by Howard I. Chapelle Pg. 156 in section "History of Double Hull Craft" at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31179/31179-h/31179-h.htm